Ch.35Episode 3 – Fantastic Vacation

I recognized it was Veronica as soon as I heard her voice.

She had given me a secure line phone since she was supposedly an informant.

Why would she call?

“What’s your reason for calling so suddenly at this hour?”

-“Hmm, I missed you?”

“Don’t say things that could be misunderstood if others heard. Don’t tell me you’ve been drinking again?”

Veronica’s distinctive giggling laughter came through the call.

This is definitely her saying things she doesn’t mean just to mess with me.

-“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist imagining your reaction.”

“Why on earth do you live like this?”

-“Well…”

Veronica trailed off with a mischievous voice.

-“Because it’s fun?”

Bullshit.

Episode 3 – A Fantastic Vacation

Late at night.

I was on a call with the Church’s Saint on a train heading to the capital.

“Can’t sleep?”

-“No.”

“You can’t sleep because you drink every day.”

-“I only had a liiiittle bit.”

She’s bragging.

I signaled to the corridor, and a mage dispatched from the Intelligence Bureau cast an anti-eavesdropping spell.

A bluish rippling curtain enveloped me.

After confirming the mage’s okay sign, I began speaking.

“Saint Veronica. What exactly have you been doing until this hour?”

-“Drinking with Lucia.”

“Wait, why is Miss Lucia…?”

-“The election is the day after tomorrow. We were just chatting over drinks.”

Is it election time already? Time really flies.

Lucia is scheduled to join us as soon as the election results are in. When team members are separated, unfounded rumors of discord tend to emerge.

Didn’t rumors spread the last time I met with Lucia?

“I see. It’s good to see you’re doing well. Did you have something to tell me?”

-“I heard the Magic Tower is likely to be your next destination?”

“The higher-ups are considering it as a likely destination.”

Going to the Magic Tower is practically confirmed. If Camilla Rowell’s ability is related to magic, then the Magic Tower is the only place that can accurately diagnose her fainting symptoms.

The Kingdom’s Research Institute has good facilities, but compared to it, the Magic Tower is like Asan Hospital in terms of quality.

“And I hear there’s a new colleague there? What was the name…?”

-“Francesca Ranieri. The Magic Tower Master’s third successor.”

“Ah, right. Now I remember.”

Alchemist Francesca.

A woman pushed out of the Magic Tower’s succession line.

According to the game’s story, she was expelled from the Magic Tower in early August. Since it’s almost September now… she’s probably in the central part of the Empire. In the story, we’re supposed to meet her in the Imperial Capital.

-“The Magic Tower will likely be a bit chaotic for a while.”

“What do you mean…?”

-“Succession issues and such. It’s just complicated.”

Seems like the magicians are up to their nonsense again.

“Too many intertwined issues to explain easily?”

-“Yep.”

“Nothing’s certain yet, right?”

-“Hmm. I suppose so?”

In the game, after completing the Magic Tower quests, we move to the northern part of the Empire.

The story involved strange monsters or demonic beasts pouring in during midwinter and breaking through defense lines. The game was so difficult that I quit at that point.

Just thinking about it gives me a throbbing headache. I should have studied the wiki more thoroughly.

When I put my hand to my forehead, I felt a feverish heat.

“Yes. Well. I understand. Please contact me if you learn any good information.”

-“Can I call you at dawn?”

Please go away.

*

The fact that the Hero had arrived in the Kingdom was a secret. Those who needed to know already knew, but the general public was still unaware.

They planned to announce it once Lucia joined after the election.

So the first people I met at the train station weren’t journalists or welcoming crowds, but military police. That is, the MPs.

“Hero, we’ll escort you to the hotel.”

“Uh…? N-now?”

“Yes. You can go now.”

“M-Major?”

“Go ahead. We have some business to attend to.”

Camilla Rowell flew away, trembling with anxiety like a child about to get a flu shot.

Not a figurative expression for moving quickly. She literally flew away on a broomstick.

We stood there dumbfounded, watching her scream as she soared away. Her crimson hair fluttered in the wind.

“Isn’t flying prohibited in the capital?”

“Police and postal workers fly around on broomsticks all the time.”

“Ah…”

Apparently, they have something like a control tower to prevent accidents. As someone who’s been in the army twice, I don’t know much about it.

Now that Camilla Rowell was gone, it was time to dismiss my subordinates.

“You guys remember the meeting place and time, right?”

“One week from now. 10 AM. The back entrance of the designated hotel.”

“Go.”

Teeeng mama-

Jake boarded a train home while spouting nonsense, and Pippin disappeared into the city center to meet friends.

Both had been given a week of freedom and ran off like slaves yearning for liberty after breaking their shackles. Anyone watching would think it was the Shawshank Redemption.

And as for me.

“Shall we go?”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll escort you to headquarters.”

For the first time in my life, I soared into the sky on a broomstick.

It was fucking terrifying.

*

“…Based on information from the Inquisition, we conducted reconnaissance. We successfully tracked Cardinal Raoul and 16 fugitive agents from the Imperial Guard Bureau’s 2nd Department in the high-end residential area of the northern Church district.

Nine members of the Special Activities Division and two operatives raided the location, killing all 16 fugitive agents and capturing Cardinal Raoul alive. After three days of interrogation at Safe House No. 5, he was executed.

…This concludes my report.”

“Good work.”

The report was over. I sat comfortably in the chair, stretching my legs.

“What happened to Raoul?”

“We put him in a drum and threw him into the sea.”

Colonel Clevins clicked his tongue as if it were a waste.

“It would have been good to put him on trial…”

“Still, the country’s economy is recovering and everyone benefited, so it’s not bad, right?”

“That’s true.”

Through this incident, the Empire and the Church secured political stability, while the Kingdom gained economic stability. The result of the Intelligence and Foreign Affairs departments running around like crazy.

We agreed to receive food and necessities at relatively affordable prices. Though we’re a self-sufficient country, more is always better.

Fewer people will likely starve to death this winter.

The colonel seemed to share my thoughts, smiling brightly to express his joy.

“Reports indicate that starvation deaths will decrease. Thanks to the budget surplus, we’re buying cattle from the Empire.”

“Cattle, sir?”

“Don’t you remember? All the cattle died from an epidemic a few years ago.”

“Ah.”

“The dairy industry and everything else was destroyed, and all year round, corpses of suicides in the river…”

The colonel sighed and cut off his words. It wasn’t a story suitable for the good mood.

A brief silence with a strange atmosphere passed between us. But within that silence, we exchanged countless conversations. With our shared experiences and successful operations, we could understand each other’s thoughts just by looking at each other.

So the colonel skipped the small talk and said briefly:

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s get something to eat.”

“…Yes.”

That was enough.

*

“The world is going to hell these days… Don’t you think?”

“When was it ever normal?”

Colonel Clevins put down his utensils. Judging by his scattered gray hair and the deep furrow between his brows, his stress levels must be through the roof.

It’s well known that people in high positions suffer from heavy workloads, but unfortunately, we’re currently in a cold war, and he’s a civil servant in an intelligence agency handling military information. Moreover, he’s the next director.

“Demon tribes pushing down from above, civil war causing chaos below, monsters crossing borders, epidemics spreading across the continent…”

“Your efforts are appreciated.”

“And in the midst of all this, someone sets off a bomb to grab the Pope’s seat. The world is really something.”

It’s definitely a messed-up world. And it’s going to get worse.

“I hear the Magic Tower might have internal problems soon.”

“What’s your source?”

“My informant.”

We’re having dinner in an upscale restaurant. Due to pirates disrupting sea trade routes, a piece of beef has become as expensive as gold.

Of course, prices have stabilized recently thanks to the Empire sending food.

Still, the price remains burdensome enough to make one hesitate before opening their wallet, but ironically, the restaurant had no empty seats.

“Everyone’s working hard.”

“It’s promotion season, can’t be helped.”

He meant people were rattling their wallets for expensive meals to curry favor for promotions.

Indeed, most of the people filling the restaurant were civil servants or corporate executives.

Occasionally, I spotted familiar faces among them.

“That person over there, I think I’ve seen him at the staff headquarters.”

“That’s the head of the Logistics Department. Across from him is the Personnel Staff Officer from headquarters. They’re from the same unit.”

“The Operations Staff Officer is meeting with the Corps Commander. Are they from the same school?”

“They’re senior and junior from the Academy.”

In other words, everyone is seeking out their seniors to gather promotion information.

In reality, during promotion season, the Gangnam area behind the Ministry of Defense in Yongsan is crawling with soldiers. Contrary to what one might imagine, most meet to gather information rather than to request favors.

“How are the promotions going this time?”

“Thanks to the refugees, the southern region is completely wiped out. They’ll all have to take off their uniforms.”

Who from which class got promoted, which region got completely destroyed, and so on.

You need to listen carefully to this information to know whether you’re getting promoted or if you need to retire. Usually, when retirement seems imminent, people start worrying about what they’ll do for a living.

According to the colonel, units stationed in the south are all being cut due to border security failures. Looking closely, some already had expressions that suggested they might cry.

Of course, whether they retire or not is none of our business. I smiled brightly and said to the colonel:

“Congratulations on your promotion. Should I call you General now?”

“Come on. I haven’t changed my rank insignia yet.”

“Oh please… Is there anyone in the Intelligence Bureau who doesn’t know you’re being promoted to general?”

Colonel Clevins. No, Brigadier General (designate) Clevins will soon become the Director of Military Intelligence.

Having won the internal power struggle in the Intelligence Bureau, he is set to be appointed as the next director.

If I hadn’t become the Hero’s companion, I would have been promoted to major this promotion season. I’m classified as part of Clevins’ faction.

“You were specially promoted to major not long ago, so a promotion to lieutenant colonel is unrealistic.”

Clevins told me with a slightly apologetic expression.

It was an expected outcome. I’m not particularly ambitious about promotions, so I wasn’t disappointed.

“It’s fine. Being a major at 28 is enough. A lieutenant colonel position would be too much for me right now.”

“Good. Thanks for understanding.”

Neither of us had families to support, and as people from an intelligence agency who don’t maintain social networks, our conversation was rather dry.

Still, being on friendly terms, we exchanged some light updates.

“How is the senior doing?”

“He’s in good health. I heard he’s retiring but staying on as an elder to continue his activities.”

“He should retire and return home by now. Honestly.”

The future director of military intelligence complained as if he couldn’t control his senior.

Pedro decided to remain in the Church and continue his spy activities. Although repatriation was suggested, he refused to return home.

“He just asked me to deliver his necklace to his hometown.”

“That necklace is his wife’s keepsake. I plan to send it to his hometown tomorrow.”

“Did he have a family?”

“Even had children.”

It was a bitter story, but it was reality. Isn’t that the life of all agents?

“Are your subordinates resting well?”

“Ah… They’re so busy having fun they won’t even answer calls.”

“You’ll only get cursed at if you contact someone on vacation. Just let them rest.”

“Yes, sir.”

Pippin and Jake seem to be enjoying themselves. I heard Camilla Rowell is undergoing tests at the hotel. The results should be out within three days at the latest.

By the way…

“Don’t I get a vacation?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean, the kids are on vacation, the Hero is resting, but why am I…”

I indirectly expressed why he had dragged me to a dinner meeting without giving me any vacation.

Having been eating well until just now, I suddenly complained about not getting a vacation, leaving Brigadier General (designate) Clevins dumbfounded.

“Are you sulking because I didn’t give you a vacation?”

“…”

“Haha! This guy…”

“Well, you should have at least said something.”

“So you are sulking? Just tell me.”

“…”

I kept my mouth shut. And the colonel burst into laughter.

Honestly, it’s justifiable to be annoyed. I’ve been working my ass off for two months without even a hint of vacation.

After laughing for a while, the colonel wiped his tears with a handkerchief and gave an order.

“Alright, alright. I’ll send you on vacation after you finish this one task.”

“Do you have something for me to do?”

“Go somewhere briefly.”

“Is it a business trip?”

“Nothing so grand. Think of it as a field inspection.”

Field inspection, huh. I have a feeling it’s not going to be an ordinary task.

“There’s a leak at the research institute.”

“…A security breach?”

“We suspect so.”

“…”

“I’ve sent some people, but I want you to go and check it out for me.”